Method of operating a circular knitting machine



y 1.966 W H. IMBODEN 3,250,091

METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet l F L E. E

74 73 INVENTOR.

LI/a/ter H lmbooen 75 BY dig/6% ATTORNEY.

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May 10, 1966 w. H. IMBODEN METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTINGMACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1964 May 10, 1966 w. H. IMBODEN 3,250,091

METHOD OF OPERATING CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Tl E 41 INVEN TOR Walter H /mb0oen ATTORNEY.

May 10, 1966 W- H. IMBODEN METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTINGMACHINE Q EQ 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,250,091 METHOD OFOPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Walter H. Imboden, Reading, Pa.,assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,097 8 Claims. (Cl.66-42) This invention relates to multistation circular knitting machinesadapted for rotary and reciprocatory operation to knit tubular fabricssuch as ladies hosiery and more particularly to a method of operatingsuch. machines to inactivate certain of the stations during single-feedknitting of portions of the fabrics at one of the stations and toactivate the inactivated stations during multifeed knitting of otherportions of the fabrics.

In circular knitting machines having two or more knitting stations forknitting fabrics such as ladies hosiery with conventional reciprocatedheel and toe portions, the main station of the machine is employed toknit the heel and toe during reciprocatory operation of the machine andboth the main and the auxiliary station or stations are employed to knitthe welt, leg and foot portions of the hosiery during rotary operationof the machine. Commonly, knitting of the make-up courses of the weltstarts at the main station and the auxiliary station or stat-ions arethen activated with the main station to knit the remaining portion ofthe welt and leg. Prior to the start of the heel the auxiliary stationsare inactivated while the heel is knit at the main station, and arereactivated at the end of the heel for the knitting of the foot and thenagain inactivated before starting the toe. When the auxiliary stationsare activated and inactivated the leading ends of the ingoing yarns andthe trailing ends of the outgoing yarns.

are interknit or interlocked with the stitches of a previously formedcourse to prevent the withdrawal of these yarn ends and the formation ofeyelet holes in the fabric.

In order to interlock the ends of the ingoing and outgoing yarns spacedgroups of so-called locking needles are provided, usually in the portionof the needle cylinder in which the heel and toe is knit, which are sooperated as to take the end of the ingoing (or outgoing) yarn butwithout knitting it at the station being activated (or inactivated) andthe end is then interlocked at the next active station. One of thegroups of locking needles precedes the first needle selected to knit atthe station when it is activated and another group of locking needlesfollows the last needle to knit when the station is inactivated. In

machines where the needles are raised to knitting position .by patternjacks at the auxiliary station, or stations, the

jacks also in part control the action of the groups of locking needles.For this purpose 'a cancelling butt pattern is provided at two differentlevels, usually on the raising butts of the jacks, with the butt patternin one level controlling the jacks to inactivate one group of lockingneedles and select the first needle to knit when the station is to beactivated and also controlling the jacks to inactivate another group oflocking needles and select the last needle to knit when the station isinactivated. The cancelling butt pattern in the other level inactivatesthe jacks associated with all of the needles and the cancelling butts inthe two levels are acted on by separate control levers which are movedbetween active and inactive positions at appropriate times from one ofthe main cam drums of the machine.

In machines having only a single auxiliary station to be activated andinactivated the spacing between the groups of locking needles and jacksassociated therewith is sufficient to accurately time the movement ofthe control levers between their active and inactive positions. However,

, 3,250,091 Patented May 10, 1966 in machines having a main and threeauxiliary knitting stations and in which the three auxiliary stationsare to be activated andinactivated at times, a separate group of lockingneedles must be provided for each auxiliary station with an appropriatecancelling butt pattern for each group of locking needles Since, thethree groups of locking needles and jack butt pattern controlling thefirst and last needles to knit associated with each group are positionedwithin the heel part of the cylinder, the permissible spacing betweenthe controlling butt pattern on the jacks which, together with otherfactors such as the spacing of the stations around the cylinder and thetiming of the moves of the cam drum to move the controllevers betweenactive and inactive position, make it difficult to maintain control ofthe first and last needle to knit at each of the auxiliary stations withany degree of accuracy.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of operating acircular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations toinactivate certain of the stations while the machine is knittingportions of a fabric at one of the stations and to return the inactivestations to active condition to knit other portions of the fabric at allof the stations.

Another object is to provide a method of operating a circular knittingmachine having a main knitting station and at least three auxiliaryknitting stations and jacks for controlling the operation of the needlesat the auxiliary stations, which method includes the selective operationof a group of the jacks at each of the auxiliary stations to inactivatethe needles following the last needle to knit at the station when thestation is to be inactivated and to activate the first needle to knit'when the station is again to be activated.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the illustrative and practicalembodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, theinvention resides in the novel features of the method of operating acircular knitting machine as hereinafter more particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a multistation circular knittingmachine having means for carrying out the methods of knitting accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a stocking knitted on the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a developed view of the needle operating cams and jackselecting means of the machine of FIG. 1 as viewed when lookingoutwardly of the needle cylinder of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the needles and jacks together withportions of the butt pattern on the jacks for controlling the operationof the needles;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the stitch formation of a portion ofthe knitted fabric illustrating the interknitting of the ends of theyarns when knitting stations are activated, the stitches being shown asviewed from the interior of the fabric; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating theinterknitting of the yarn ends when knitting stations are activated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings there is schematically showna circular knitting machine having needles 10 which are mounted in slots11 in a needle cylinder 12 adapted for both rotary and reciprocatoryoperation, a main knitting station 15 and auxiliary knitting stations16, 17 and 18, respectively. Main station 15 is provided with yarnfingers 20 for feeding yarn 20a to the needles 10 and earns foroperating on butts 21 of the needles including a forward stitch cam 22acting on the needles in rotary and forward movements of reciprocationof the cylinder, indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3, and a reversestitch cam 25 acting on the needles on reverse movements ofreciprocation of the cylinder. Cam 22 has a fixed upper portion 26 and alower portion 27 which is adapted to be moved from a full-in activeposition in which it acts on the but-ts of all of the needles andpartially retracted position in which it acts on the butts of certain ofthe needles while missing the butts of other needles by means and forpurposes generally shown and described in British Patent No. 895,672,published May 2, 1962. Also acting on the butts of the needles atstation 15 is a cam 30 associated with the forward stitch cam 22 forraising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forwarddirection, a cam 31 associated with the reverse stitch cam 25 forraising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the reversedirection, and a center cam 3-2. Also associated with the stitch cams 22and 25 are up or narrowing picks 35 and 36, respectively, and a down orwidening pick 37 which operate on the needles in a conventional mannerduring fashioning of the heel and toe portions of stocking fabricsknitted on the machine.

Each of auxiliary stations 16, 17 and 18 are provided with yarn fingers40 for feeding yarn to the needles and the fingers 40 at station 16feeding yarn 40a, the fingers at station 17 feeding yarn 40b and thefingers at station 18 feeding yarn 400. Each of stations 16, 17 and 18are also provided with cams for operating on the butts of the needlesonly during rotary movements of the cylinder 12 including a forwardstitch cam 41, an upper center cam 42 and a cam 45 for raising theneedles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction. Thestitch cams 41 are radially movable between active positions to act onthe butts of the needles and inactive positions out of the path of thebutts on the needles to inactivate the auxiliary stations and all of thecams at the main'and auxiliary stations are constructed to operate in aconventional and well known manner.

During plain knitting at the main and auxiliary knitting stations, withthe cylinder rotating in the forward direction, indicated by the arrowin FIG. 3, the needles 10 approach station along a path 46,commonlyre-ferred to as the tucking path or level, then rise over thereverse stitch cam 25 to a stitch clearing level 47 to clear previouslyformed stitches on the needles below the latches thereof. The needlesare then lowered by the center cam 32 to take yarn fed by a finger andas they continue their movement are lowered by stitch cam 22 to draw newstitches and to knock-over the previously formed stitches on theneedles. .After passing the lowest point of the stitch cam 22 theneedles are again raised to tuck level by the cam 30. During continuedmovementof the cylinder 12, all of the needles, as they pass througheach of the auxiliary stations 16, 17 and 18, are raised to clearinglevel to clear the previously formed stitches thereon, by means and inthe manner hereinafter set forth, and the needles are then lowered bythe cam 42 to take yarn fed by a finger 41) at the station. The needlesare then lowered by the stitch cam 4-1 to draw new stitches andknockover the previously formed stitches thereon and again raised totuck level by the cam 45.

The means for raising the needles 10 to latch clearing level atauxiliary stations 16, 17 and 18 include pattern jacks 50 (FIG. 3) whichare conventionally of the rocking type and which act throughintermediate jacks 51, there being a pattern jack and an intermediatejack in the slots 11 in the cylinder 12 for each of the needles. Each ofthe jacks 50 has a lower butt or lug 52 adapted for engagement with araising cam 55 at each auxiliary station when the lower ends of thejacks are rocked outwardly through engagement of a presser cam 56 withupper portions 57 of the jacks. The presser cams 56 are moved betweeninactive. and active positions to act on the jacks in a com- 4 monmanner. Following a raising movement of the jacks 50, jacks 51 andneedles 16 by the cam 55 at each of the auxiliary stations the jacks areagain returned to their lowermost positions by a cam surface 60 whichacts on butts 6-1 on the intermediate jacks 51.

The pattern jacks are also adapted to be controlled so that onlyselected ones of the jacks are raised by the cams at the auxiliarystations to raise their associated needles to latch clearing level whilethe other needles remain at the tucking level determined by the cams 45for purposes of forming design stitch patterns in the stocking fabrics.For so selecting the jacks they are provided with usual breakablepattern or cancelling butts 62 at a plurality of levels which areadapted to be engaged by selector levers 65 (FIG. 3) to again move thelugs 52 on the jacks out of the path of the cam 55 after the jacks havebeen rocked outwardly by the presser cam 56. Hence, the jacks on whichthe butts 62 are unbroken are acted on by the selecting levers 65 whilethose jacks having their butts removed are raised by earns 55 to movetheir associated needles to clearing level. The selector levers 65 areoperated by a trick drum 66 when in active positions and areindividually moved between their active and inactive positions by acontrol drum 67 (FIG. 1). The trick drums 66 and control drums 67 at theauxiliary stations are controlled and operated by means indicateddiagrammatically at 68 from a main cam drum 69 of the machine.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings there is shown a ladies seamless s-tocking 70having a usual turned welt 7-1, a leg portion 72, a foot portion 73-,and heel and toe portions 74 and 75, respectively. The welt 71, legportion 72 and foot port-ion 73 are knit multifeed throughout at mainand auxiliary stations 15, 16, 17 and 18 during rotary operation of themachine and the heel 74 and toe 75 are reciprocatorily knit at the mainstation in a conventional manner.

At the start of a stocking knitting cycle, the yarn fingers 40 and thestitch earns 41 are in inactive positions and the presser cams 56 are ininactive positions to inactivate the jacks at the auxiliary stations 16,17 and 18 and only the main station 15 is in action to rotarily knit themakeup or starting courses of the welt 71. Following knitting of themake-up courses the auxiliary stations are activated and the remainderof the welt and the leg portion 72 of the stocking are knit multifeed atthe main and auxiliary stations. Prior to the start of the heel 74 theauxiliary stations are again returned to inactive condition and the heelis then reciprocatorily knit at the main station 15. The auxiliarystations are again reactivated following the last course of the heel andthe foot 73 is kni-ttedmultifeed at both main and auxiliary stations andthe auxiliary stations are again inactivated before the start of the toe75 which is then reciprocatorily knit at the main station.

In order to prevent the formation of eyelet holes in the fabric when theauxiliary stations are activated and inactivated, the ends of theincoming and outgoing yarns at the auxiliary stations are adapted to beinterknit or interlocked with the stitches of a previously formed courseof the fabric which is a course formed at the main station when theauxiliary stations are activated and which may be a course formed at themain station or at one of the auxiliary stations when the auxiliarystations are inactivated in the manner hereinafter set forth. For sointerlocking the ends of the ingoing and outgoing yarn ends at theauxiliary stations special groups of locking needles, indicated at 76,77 and 78 (FIG. 4), are provided in the portion of the cylinder in whichthe heel is knit. Each of the locking needle groups 76, 77 and 78include spaced needles having short butts 10a and intervening needleshaving longer butts 10b. The leading needle of each group having a shortbutt 10a, when considered in the forward direction of knitting asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, is flanked by a needle hereinafterreferred to as the last needle to be raised by its associated jack 50 toknit when a station isin;

activated and the trailing needle of the group having a short butt isflanked by a needle hereinafter referred to as the first needle to beraised by its associated jack to knit when a station is activated. Thegroups of locking needles 76, 77 and 78 are arranged to-lock the ends ofthe ingoing and outgoing yarns at the respective auxiliary stations inthe manner hereinafter set forth.

The needles of the different groups 76, 77 and 78 are actuated to lockin the ends of ingoing and outgoing yarns in the same manner set forthin said British Patent No. 895,672. As disclosed in said British patentwhen the auxiliary knitting station is to be activated or inactivated,the lower portion 27 of the forward stitch cam at the main station ispartially retracted. The needles of a looking group are raised to clearthe previously formed stitches thereon at the main station and aftertaking yarn at the main station the group of needles are lowered by thestitch cam. At this time the needles of the group having short buttsmiss the retracted lower portion of the stitch cam and are lowered onlyto an intermediate level by the upper portion 26 of the stitch cam whilethe remaining needles of the group having the long butts are lowered bythe lower portion to draw stitches of the yarn at the main station. Allof the needles of the group are then raised to tuck level, with theshort butt needles having cleared stitches below the latches thereof andall of the needles of the group having a stitch of yarn of the mainstation in the hooks thereof. The group of needles then remain atthetuck level as they pass through the auxiliary station and after takingthe leading end of the incoming yarn when the auxiliary station is to beactivated (or the trailing end of the outgoing yarn when the auxiliarystation is to be inactivated) the group of needles is lowered by thestitch cam at the auxiliary station. As the group of needles is loweredthe short butt needles draw stitches of the yarns of both main andauxiliary stations through and knit off the previously cleared stitchesthereon and the remaining needles of the group tuck a stitch of the yarnof the auxiliary station with the uncleared stitch of yarn of the mainstation. When the group of needles again passes through the main stationthey are raised to' clear the stitches thereon and these stitches areknit off by new stitches formed at the main station.

In order to control the needles of the different groups 76, 77 and 78 sothat these needles remain at the tucking level as they'pass through theauxiliary stations when they are activated and inactivated the jacksassociated with each group of needles are adapted to be inactivatedfollowing raising of the jack associated with the last needle to knitwhen the station with which the group is associated is inactivated andthe jack associated with the first needle to knit preceding the groupwhen the station is activated. The different groups of needles arearranged to function in different order at the auxiliary stations whenthe stations are activated and inactivated'as hereinafter set forth.

For so controlling the jacks associated with the different groups ofneedles, there is provided, in accordance with the instant invention, alever 88 for acting -on butt portions in a lower level 81 on the lugs 52on the jacks 50 at each of the auxiliary stations 16, 17 and 18 and asecond lever 82 for acting on butt portions in an upper level 85 on thelugs 52 at each of the auxiliary stations. The levers 80 and 82, whichare similar to and act on the jacks in substantially the same positionas selector levers 65, are adapted to be moved between inactivepositions and active positions from the cam drum 69 of the machine byconnections indicated diagrammatically at 83 (FIG. 1) to acton the lugportions in levels 81 and 85 in the manner and for purposes hereinafterset forth.

The butt portions on lugs 52 in the upper level 85 on a group of jacks86 preceding a jack 76 which is associated with the leading short buttneedle of group 76 are removed or cut and the butt portions on the lugsin the 6 upper level on a group of jacks 87 intermediate a jack 77assoicated with the trailing short butt needle of group 77 and a jack 78assoicated with the leading short butt needle of group 78 are likewiseremoved or cut. A group of jacks 90 which includes all of the jacks 86on which the butt portions of lugs 52 in upper level are removed and thejacks associated with the needles of group 76 are provided with butts 62at a butt level 91 on the jacks and the butts at this level on theremaining jacks-in the cylinder are removed. The trailing jack 76 ofgroup of jacks is associated with the trailing short butt needle ofgroup 76. A group of jacks 92 including the jacks associated with theneedles of groups 77 and 78 and the jacks of group 87 are provided withbutts 62 at a butt level on these jacks and the butts at level 95 on theremaining jacks in the cylinder are removed.

The leading jack 77 of the group of jacks 92 is associated with theleading short butt needle of group 77 and the trailing jack 78 of group92 is associated with the trailing short butt needle of group 78. Thebutts 62 at level 91 on the group of jacks 90 and the butts 62 at level95 on the group of jacks 92 are acted on by the selector levers 65 atthe auxiliary stations in the manner hereinafter set forth.

As above set forth, at the start of a stocking knitting cycle, only themain station 15 is in operation to knit the star-ting or make-up coursesof the welt and the yarn fingers 40, stitch cams 41 and jack pressercams 56 are in inactive positions to inactivate the auxiliary stations16, 17 and 18. Also at this time the lever 80 at each of the auxiliarystations is in active position to act on the butt portions in level 81on the raising lugs 52 on the jacks 50 to prevent any of the jacks frombeing raised by the raising earns 55 at the respective auxiliarystations. Also a move of the cam drum moves the lever 82 at each of theauxiliary stations into active position to act on the butt portions atlevel 85 on the raising lugs 52, the move of the cam drum also acting toadvance the control drums 67 to move the selector levers 65 to activepositions to act on the butts 62 at butt levels 91 and 95 on the jacksat each auxiliary station. Following the formation of the make-upcourses the auxiliary stations are activated during the formation of asingle course (FIG. 5) of the yarn 20a at the main station 15 in asingle rotation of the cylinder 12 in the forward direction, indicatedby the arrow in FIG. 3. For this purpose group 78 of locking needles isassociated with the auxiliary station 16, group 77 of locking needles isassociated with auxiliary station 17 and group 76 of needles isassociated with auxiliary station 18 and the lower portion 27 of thestitch cam 22 at the main station 15 is partially retracted to miss theshort butt needles of each group as it passes through the main stationto lower the short butt needles only to an'intermediate position asabove set forth. As the needles of group 78 approach auxiliary station16 the lever 65 at this station engages the butts in lever 95 on thegroup of jacks 92 after which the levers 80 and 82 are moved to inactivepositions with respect tothe butt pattern on lugs 52 and the pressurelever 56 is moved to active position at station 16. As the needles ofgroup 78 continue to approach auxiliary station 16 engagement of thelever 65 with the'butts in level 95 cancels the raising movement of thejacks associated with needles of group 78, the stitch cam 41 at thisstation is moved to active position, and as the needles .of group 78reach the yarn finger 40 it is moved into active yarn feeding positionandthe yarn 48a thereof is taken by the needles of group 78 as they arelowered by the stitch cam. When the last jack having a butt in level 95,which is the jack 78 associated with the trailing end short butt needleof group 78, passes the lever 65 both levers 65 associated'with thebutts at levels 91 and 95 are moved to inactive positions and all of thejacks then raise their associated needles to clearing level to knit acourse 101 at station 16 in the conventional manner.

As the needles of group 77 approach auxiliary station 17 and while thelever 82 is acting on the butts at level 85 on the jacks between thegroups of jacks 86 and 87 on which the butt portions in level 85 areremoved, the levers 65 associated with the butts at levels 91 and 95 andthe lever 88 associated with the butt level 81 on the lugs 52 are movedto inactive positions. As the needles of group 77 continue to approachstation 17 the stitch cam 41 is moved to active position and as theneedles of group 77 reach the yarn finger 40 at the station 17 it ismoved to active yarn feeding position and the yarn 48b thereof is takenby the needles of group 77 as they are lowered by the stitch cam. Whenthe last jack having a butt at level 85 preceding the group of jacks 87,which is the jack 77 associated with the trailing end short butt needleof group 77, passes lever 82 at station 17 the following jacks raisetheir associated needles to clearing level to knit a course 102 of theyarn 40b at station 17. While the lever 82 at station 17 is still beingpassed by the jacks of group 87 it is moved to inactive position. 1

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 18 and after thelever 65 starts acting on the butts at level 91 on the group of jacks90, the levers 80 and 82 are moved to inactive position with respect tothe butts at levels 81 and 85 on the lugs 52 on the jacks. As theneedles of group 76 continue to approach station 18 the stitch cam 41 ismoved to active position and as the needles of group 76 reach the yarnfinger 40 it is moved to active feeding position and the yarn 40cthereof is taken by the needles of group 76 as they are lowered by thestitch cam. When the last jack having a butt at level 91, which is thejack 76 associated with the trail ing end needle of group 76, passes thelever 56 the following jacks raise their associated needles to knit acourse 103 of the yarn 40c and the levers 65 associated with butts atlevels 91 and 95 are moved to inactive positions. i

It is to be understood that the above noted operations to activate theauxiliary stations occur at the respective auxiliary stationssubstantially simultaneously. Also the needles of group 78 after takingthe end of the yarn 40a at station 16 are cleared and the stitchesthereon are knit off by the course 1112 knit at station 17 to lock theend of this yarn, the needles of group 77 after taking the end of yarn4017 at station 17 are cleared and the stitches thereon are knit off bythe course 103 knit at station 18 and the needles of group 76 aftertaking the end of yarn 400 at station 18 are cleared and the stitchesthereon are knit off by the next course 180 knit of the yarn 20a at themain station 15. The auxiliary stations are activated in the same mannerduring the first rotary movement of the cylinder following the lastcourse of the heel.

To inactivate auxiliary stations 16, 17 and 18 before the start of theheel, the needles of group 78 are associated with station 18, theneedles of group 77 are associated with station 16 and the needles ofgroup 76 are associated with station 17. During the second to lastrotation of the cylinder in the forward direction before the firstreciprocatory movement of the cylinder to knit the heel, as the needlesof group 78 approach auxiliary station 17 during formation of a course105 of. the yarn 4012 (FIG. 6), the stitch cam 41 at this station ispartially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 78.Thereupon, the needles of group 78, after being raised by the jacks atstation 17 to clear the stitches of the yarn 40a of station 16 thereon,are lowered by the center while the short butt needles of group 78 havestitches of the yarn of station 16 cleared below the latches thereof andstitches of the yarn of station 17 in the hooks thereof. As the needlesof group '78 approach auxiliary station 18 during formation of a course106 of the yarn 40c the lever 82 at this station is moved to activeposition in the group of jacks 87 on which the butt portions at upperlevel 85 are removed. After the last jack of group 87 raises itsassociated needle to clear and knit at station 18, lever 82 engages thecancelling butt at level 85 on the jack 78 which is the jack associatedwith the leading short butt needle of group 78 to cancel the raisingmovement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles ofgroup 78. While the lever 82 is acting on the jacks associated with theneedles of group 78 the lever at station 18 is moved to active positionto act on the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement ofall of the jacks at this station and the presser cam 56 is moved toinactive position. The needles of group 78 now pass through station 18at tucking level to take yarn 400 at this station and are then loweredby the stitch cam thereat after which the stitch cam and yarn finger aremoved to inactive positions and the yarn is clamped and severed in theconventional manner. The stitches on the needles of group 78 are thencleared and knit off by the stitches of a course 107 of the yarn 20aknit at main station 15 during the last rotation of the cylinder 12before the start of the heel.

During this last rotation of the cylinder in the forward direction thelower portion 27 of the stitch cam at the main station 15 is partiallyretracted to miss the short butt needles of group 77 as they passthrough the main station and the stitch cam of station 16 is partiallyretracted to miss the short butt needles of group 76 as they passthrough station 16. As-the needles of group 77 approach auxiliarystation 16 during formation of a last course 108 of yarn 40a at station16 the lever 65 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level95 of the group of jacks 92 to cancel the raising movement of the jacksassociated with the needles of group 77, the presser lever 56 is movedto inactive position and the lever 80 is moved to active position to acton the butts at level 81 to cancel further raising movement of the jacksat station 16. After the needles of group 77 take the yarn 40a station16 as they are lowered by the stitch cam 41. The stitch cam and yarnfinger at station 16 are then moved to inactive position, the yarn isclamped and served and the lever 65 associated with the butts at level95 on the group of jacks 92 is moved to inactive position. 4

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 17 duringformation of a last course 109 of the varn 40b thereat the lever 82 ofthis station is moved to active position in the group of jacks 86 onwhich the butt portions in upper level 85 are removed. After the lastjacks of group 86 raises its associated needle to clear and knit theyarn 40b at station 17, the lever 82 engages the canceling butt on thejack 76, which is the jack associated with the leading needle of group76, to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacksassociated with the needles of group 76. While the lever 82 is acting onthe jacks associated with the needles of group 76, the lever 80 atstation 17 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81to cancel further raising movement of the jacks and the presser cam 56is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 76 new pass throughstation 17 at tucking level to take yarn 40b and are then lowered by thestitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger at station 17 aremoved to inactive positions and a yarn is clamped and served. Thestitches on the needles of both groups 76 and 77 are then cleared andknit off the stitches of yarn 20a knit at the main station duringformation of the first course 110 of the heel as the needles move in thefirstneedles of group 78 to miss the short butt needles of group 78during formation of a course 111 of the yarn 20a thereat (FIG. 7), thestitch cam 41 at station 16, the stitch cam 41 at station 16 ispartially retracted to miss the short butt needles of group 77 duringformation of a last course 112 of the yarn 40a of station 16 and thestitch cam at station 17 is partially retracted to miss the short buttneedles of group 76 during formation of a last course 113' of the yarn40b of station 17. As the needles of group 78 approach auxiliary station16 the lever 82 at this station is moved to active position in the groupof jacks 87. After the last jack of group 87 raises its needles to clearand knit at station 16, lever 82 engages the cancelling butt on the jack78 to cancel the raising movement of this and the following jacksassociated with the needles of group 78. While the lever 82 is acting onthe jacks associated with the needles of group 78, the lever 80 atstation 16 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81to cancel further raising movement of the jacks at station 16 and thepresser cam 56 is moved to inactive position. The needles of group 78now pass through station 16 at tucking level to take yarn 40a and arethen lowered by the stitch cam after which the stitch cam and yarnfinger are moved to inactive positions and the yarn is clamped andsevere-d.

As the needles of group 77 approach station 17, the selector lever 65 ismoved to active position to act on the 'butts at level 95 on the groupsof jacks 92 to cancel the raising movementof the jacks associated withthe needles of group 77. While the lever 65 is cancelling the raisingmovement of the jacks associated with the needles of group 77 thelever80 is moved to active position to act on the butts at level 81 on thelugs 52 on the jacks to cancel further raising movement of the jacks atstation 17 and the presser lever 56 at station 17 is moved to inactiveposition. The needles of group 77 now pass through station 77 at tuckinglevel to take yarn 40b and'are then lowered by the stitch cam afterwhich the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactive position andthe yarn is clamped and severed.

As the needles of group 76 approach auxiliary station 18 duringformation of a last course 114 of the'yarn 40c of station' 18 thereof,the lever 82 is moved to active position in'the group of jacks 86. Afterthe last jack of group 86, on which the butt portion at level 85 isremoved, raises its needle to clear and knit at station 18, lever 82engages the cancelling butt on the jack 76 to cancel the raisingmovement of this and the following jacks associated with the needles ofgroup 76. While lever 82 is cancelling the raising movement of theneedles of group 76 the lever 80 at station 18 is moved to activeposition to act on the-butts at level 81 to cancel further raisingmovement of the jacks at this station and the presser lever 56 is movedto inactive position. Thereafter the needles of group 76 pass throughstation 18 at tuck level to take yarn 40c and are lowered by the stitchcam after which the stitch cam and yarn finger are moved to inactivepositions and the yarn is clamped and severed. The stitches on theneedles of groups 76, 77 and 78 are then cleared and knit off by thestitches of the next courselll of the yarn 20a knit at main stationduring a rotary movement of the cylinder before the start of the toe.

It is to be understood that both the number and spacing ltl of the shortand long butt needles 10a and 10b in each of the needle groups 76, 77,78 as shown in FIG. 4 is for illustrative purposes only and may bevaried from a minimum of four needles in each group, including two shortbutt needles 10a separated by two long butt needles 10b to a maximumgreater than that shown in FIG. 4 as long as the spacing between thedifferent groups is sufficient to permit the insertion and removal ofthe levers 80 and 82 acting on the butt pattern in the levels 81 and 85and levers 65 acting on the butt pattern in the levels 91 and 95 tocontrol the first and last needles to knit flanking each needle group inthe manner herebefore set forth. Furthermore, only the stitches formedby one complete group of the needle groups 76, 77 and 78 are shown inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7 while a part of the stitches formed by the other twoneedle groups and part of the stitches formed by the needles between thegroups have been omitted in order to simplify these figures.

Of course the improvements specifically shown and described by which theabove results are obtained may be changed and modified in various wayswithout departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a mainknitting station, a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations, arotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, means for feeding yarn tosaid needles at said main and auxiliary stations, means for operatingsaid needles at said main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarn fedthereat into courses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling theoperation of said needles by said operating means at said auxiliarystations including a pattern jack associated with each of said needleshaving a plurality of cancelling butt levels thereon, cam means at eachof said auxiliary stations for raising said jacks to raise said needlesthereat for operation by said operating means, and selector leversmovable from inactive positions to active positions to act on thecancelling butts in each of said cancelling butt levels at each of saidauxiliary stations, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to saidneedles and knitting courses of said fabric at said main and auxiliarystations,

(b) moving a first selector lever to active position at a first of saidauxiliary stations to act on cancelling butts in a first of saidcancelling butt levels on a first group of said jacks followingoperation of the jack associated with the last needle selected to knitat said first auxiliary station and cancelling the operation of saidfirst group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(0) moving a second selector lever to active position at .said firstauxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a second of saidbutt levels on the jacks following said first group of jacks while saidfirst selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said firstlevel and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles atsaid first auxiliary station,

((1) moving a first selector lever to active position at a second ofsaid auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in a third ofsaid butt levels on a second group of said jacks following operation ofthe jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said secondauxiliary station and cancelling operation of said second group of jacksand the needles associated therewith, and

(e) moving a second selector lever to active position at said secondauxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in saidsecond butt level while said first selector lever at said secondauxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said second buttlevel and cancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles atsaid second auxiliary station.

2. A method according to claim lincluding the additional steps of (f)moving a first selector lever to active position at a third of saidauxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in said third buttlevel on a third group of said jacks following operation of the jackassociated with the last needle selected to knit at said third auxiliarystation and cancelling operation of said third group of jacks and theneedles associated therewith, and

(g) moving a second selector lever to active position at said thirdauxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts in said second buttlevel while said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling buttsin said third butt level on said third group of jacks and cancellingfurther operation of said jacks at said third auxiliary station.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which said first, second and thirdauxiliary stations are inactivated during a single rotation of saidcylinder.

4. A method according to claim 2 in which said first and secondauxiliary stations are inactivated during one rotationof said cylinderand said third auxiliary station is inactivated during another rotationof said cylinder.

5. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a mainknitting station, a plurality of auxiliary knitting stations, arotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, means for feeding yarns tosaid needles at said main .and auxiliary stations, means for operatingsaid needles at said main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarns fedthereat into courses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling theoperation of said needles by said operating means at said auxiliarystations including a pattern jack associated with each of said needleshaving cancelling butts thereon at a plurality of butt levels, selectorlevers movable from inactive to active position to act on the cancellingbutts in each of said levels, cam means at each of said auxiliarystations for raising said jacks to raise said needles thereat foroperation by said operating means, means for cancelling operation ofsaid jacks at said auxiliary stations to inactivate said auxiliarystations including cancelling butts in one of said butt levels on thejacks associated with all of said needles, and a first selector lever ateach of said auxiliary stations for acting on the butts in said onelevel, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to and operating saidneedles to knit courses of a fabric at said main and auxiliary stations,

(b) moving a second selector lever to active position at a first of saidauxiliary stations to act on cancelling butts in a second of said buttlevels on a first group of jacks following operation of the jackassociated with the last needle selected to knit at said first auxiliarystation and cancelling the operation of said first group of jacks andneedles associated therewith,

(c) moving said first selector lever to active position at said firstauxiliary station to act on the butts in said one butt level while saidsecond selector lever at said first auxiliary station is acting on saidcancelling butts in said second level on said first group of jacks andcancelling further operation of said jacks and said needles at saidfirst auxiliary station,

(d) moving a second selector lever to active position at a second ofsaid auxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in a third ofsaid b-utt levels on a second group of said jacks following operation ofthe jack associated with the last needle selected to knit at said secondauxiliary station and cancelling operation of said second group of jacksand the needles associated therewith, and

(e) moving said first selector lever to active position at said secondauxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts on said jacks in saidone level while said second selector lever at said second auxiliarystation is acting on said cancelling butts in said third bu-tt level 12on said second group of jacks and cancelling further operation of saidjacks and said needles at said second auxiliary station.

6. A method according to claim 5 including the additional steps of (f)moving a second selector lever to active position at a third of saidauxiliary stations to act on the cancelling butts in said third buttlevel on a third group of said jacks following operation of the jackassociated with the last needle to knit at said third auxiliary stationand cancelling operation of said third group of jacks and the needlesassociated therewith,

(g) moving said first selector lever to active position at said thirdauxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in saidone butt level while said second selector lever at said third auxiliarystation is acting on said cancelling butts in said third butt level onsaid third group of jacks and cancelling further operation of said jacksand said needles at said third auxiliary station, and

(h) feeding yarn to and operating said needles and continuing knittingcourses of said fabric at only said main station.

7. A method of operating a circular knitting machine having a mainstation, a plurality of auxiliary stations, a rotatable cylinder,needles, in said cylinder, means for feeding yarn to said needles atsaid main and auxiliary stations, means for operating said needles atsaid main and auxiliary stations to knit the yarn fed thereat intocourses of a tubular fabric, means for controlling the operation of saidneedles by said operating means at said auxiliary stations including apattern jack associated with each of said needles, having a plurality ofcancelling butt levels thereon, cam means at each said auxiliarystations for raising said jacks to raise said needles thereat foroperation by said operating means, and selector levers movable frominactive to active positions to act on the cancelling butts in each saidcancelling butt levels at each of said auxiliary stations, including thesteps of (a) feeding yarn to and operating said needles at said main andauxiliary stations and knitting courses of said fabric,

(b) inactivating a first of said auxiliary stations by moving a firstselector lever to active position at said first auxiliary station to acton the cancelling butts in a first of said 'butt levels on a first groupof said jacks following operation of the jack associated with the lastneedle selected to knit at said first auxiliary station and cancellingthe operation of said first group of jacks and the needles associatedtherewith,

(c) moving a second selector lever to active position at said firstauxiliary station to act on the cancelling butts in a second of saidbutt levels on the jacks following said first group of jacks while saidfirst selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts in said firstlevel thereon to cancel further operation of said jacks and said needlesat said first auxiliary station,

(d) inactivating a second of said auxiliary stations by moving a firstselector lever to active position at said second auxiliary station toact on the cancelling butts in a third of said butt levels on a secondgroup of jacks following operation of the jack associated With the lastneedle selected to knit at said second auxiliary station and cancellingoperation of said' second group of jacks and the needles associatedtherewith, and

(e) moving a second selector lever to active position at said secondauxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts on said jacks in saidsecond butt level while said first selector lever at said secondauxiliary station is acting on said cancelling butts in said third buttlevel on said second group of jacks to cancel further operation of saidjacks and said needles at said second auxiliary station. I

8. A method according to claim 7 including the additional steps of (f)inactivating a third of said auxiliary stations by moving a firstselector lever to active position at said third auxiliary station to acton the cancelling butts in said third level on a third group of jacksfollowing operation of the jack associated with the last needle selectedto knit at said third auxiliary station and cancelling operation of saidthird group of jacks and the needles associated therewith,

(g) moving a second selector lever to active position at said thirdauxiliary station to act on said cancelling butts in said second levelwhile said first selector lever is acting on said cancelling butts insaid third butt level on said third group of jacks and cancellingfurther operation of said jacks and said needles at said third auxiliarystation, and

(h) feeding yarn to and operating said needles at only said main stationto continue knitting courses of said fabric.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 895,672 5/1962 GreatBritain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A MAINKNITTING STATION, A PLURALITY OF AUXILIARY KNITTING STATIONS, AROTATABLE CYLINDER, NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR FEEDING YARN TOSAID NEEDLES AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY STATIONS, MEANS FOR OPERATINGSAID NEEDLES AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY STATIONS TO KNIT THE YARN FEDTHEREAT INTO COURSES OF A TUBULAR FABRIC, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THEOPERATION OF SAID NEEDLES BY SAID OPERATING MEANS AT SAID AUXILIARYSTATIONS INCLUDING A PATTERN JACK ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID NEEDLESHAVING A PLURALITY OF CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS THEREON, CAM MEANS AT EACHOF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS FOR RAISING SAID JACKS TO RAISE SAID NEEDLESTHEREAT FOR OPERATION BY SAID OPERATING MEANS, AND SELECTOR LEVERSMOVABLE FROM INACTIVE POSITIONS TO ACTIVE POSITIONS TO ACT ON THECANCELLING BUTTS IN EACH OF SAID CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS AT EACH OF SAIDAUXILIARY STATIONS, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF (A) FEEDING YARN TO SAIDNEEDLES AND KNITTING COURSES OF SAID FABRIC AT SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARYSTATIONS, (B) MOVING A FIRST SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT AFIRST OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS TO ACT ON CANCELLING BUTTS IN A FIRSTOF SAID CANCELLING BUTT LEVELS ON A FIRST GROUP OF SAID JACKS FOLLOWINGOPERATION OF THE JACK ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST NEEDLE SELECTED TO KNITAT SAID FIRST AUXILIARY STATION AND CANCELLING THE OPERATION OF SAIDFIRST GROUP OF JACKS AND THE NEEDLES ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, (C) MOVING ASECOND SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT SAID FIRST AUXILIARY STATIONTO ACT ON THE CANCELLING BUTTS IN A SECOND OF SAID BUTT LEVELS ON THEJACKS FOLLOWING SAID FIRST GROUP OF JACKS WHILE SAID FIRST SELECTORLEVER IS ACTING ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS IN SAID FIRST LEVEL ANDCANCELLING FURTHER OPERATION OF SAID JACKS AND SAID NEEDLES AT SAIDFIRST AUXILIARY STATIONS, (D) MOVING A FIRST SELECTOR LEVEL TO ACTIVEPOSITION AT A SECOND OF SAID AUXILIARY STATIONS TO ACT ON THE CANCELLINGBUTTS IN A THIRD OF SAID BUTT LEVELS ON A SECOND GROUP OF SAID JACKSFOLLOWING OPERATION OF THE JACK ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAST NEEDLE SELECTEDTO KNIT AT SAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION AND CANCELLING OPERATION OFSAID SECOND GROUP OF JACKS AND THE NEEDLES ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND (E)MOVING A SECOND SELECTOR LEVER TO ACTIVE POSITION AT SAID SECONDAUXILIARY STATION TO ACT ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS ON SAID JACKS IN SAIDSECOND BUTT LEVEL WHILE SAID FIRST SELECTOR LEVER AT SAID SECONDAUXILIARY STATION IS ACTING ON SAID CANCELLING BUTTS IN SAID SECOND BUTTLEVEL AND CANCELLIG FURTHER OPERATION OF SAID JACKS AND SAID NEEDLES ATSAID SECOND AUXILIARY STATION.